Talking sock having an animal face for producing animal-type sounds

ABSTRACT

A hosiery sock with a sound device for producing animal-type sounds. The hosiery sock includes a foot section, a heel section, and an ankle section. The hosiery sock includes a three-dimensional unit attached to the ankle section. The three-dimensional unit includes a sound assembly having a sound chip, a speaker for transmitting the sound of the sound chip, an activation button for activating the sound produced by the sound chip, with filler material therein and a decorative cover having an animal face thereon. The sound chip is used for producing a sound which corresponds to the sound that the anim al face makes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a talking hosiery sock having ananimal face for producing animal-type sounds. More particularly, thehosiery sock produces animal-type sounds by squeezing the animal face ona three-dimensional unit being attached to the ankle portion of thehosiery sock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Talking dolls, toys, teddy bears and the like having a voicedevice within the dolls, toys or teddy bears are known in the art.Further, ornaments, articles, decorations and embellishments to clothingare also known in the art. None of these dolls, toys, teddy bears havecombined articles of clothing thereon that produce a voice or sound fromthat article of clothing.

[0003] There remains a need for a novel talking hosiery sock having ananimal face attached to an ankle section of the hosiery sock whichproduces a sound that corresponds to the sound that the animal facemakes upon the squeezing of an activation button within the animal facethree-dimensional unit. Additionally, the animal face three-dimensionalunit may be permanently attached to the ankle section of the hosierysock or the animal face three-dimensional unit may be detachably mountedto the ankle section of the hosiery sock.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0004] Talking toys, dolls, action figures, cars and the like havingsound assemblies within them are well known in the art. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,615 to Smela discloses a wearable effect-emittingstrain gauge device that generates effects, such as sound or light, inresponse to strain, such as caused by body position or movement. Thestrain gauge device can be incorporated within a cuff, band or tubebeing worn on a bendable portion of the body, such as the knee, ankle,elbow, etc. This prior art patent does not teach or disclose thestructure and method of use for a talking sock that produces ananimal-type sound (i.e. a monkey) from an animal face upon squeezing onthe ankle section of the sock.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,388 to Bornstein discloses a process fordisplaying articles of clothing (i.e. shoes, socks, pants, etc.) on animage of a person upon voice command. This prior art patent does notteach or disclose the structure and method of use for a talking sockthat produces an animal-type sound from an animal face upon squeezing onthe ankle section of the sock.

[0006] None of the aforementioned prior art references disclose thepresent invention of a talking hosiery sock having an animal facethereon that produces animal-type sounds upon squeezing the embroideredand decorative animal face on the ankle section of the hosiery sock.

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea novel talking hosiery sock having an animal face thereon that producesanimal-type sounds upon squeezing the decorative animal face on theankle section of the hosiery sock.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a talkinghosiery sock having a decorative face on a three-dimensional unit thatincludes a sound assembly therein, wherein the sound assembly includes asound chip, a speaker for transmitting the sound of the sound chip, abattery for supplying power to the sound chip and an activation buttonfor activating the sound of the sound chip.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a talkinghosiery sock having a decorative face or a caricature-type face on athree-dimensional unit in the form of an animal face such as a frog, apig, a cow, a lamb, a monkey, a pony, a donkey, a duck, a mouse, a lioncub, a bear cub, a puppy, a kitten, a purple dinosaur or other animals;or in the form of a caricature-type face, figurine or body such as ahappy face, a man-in-the-moon, a clown, an action figure (i.e.,Superman™, Spiderman™, the Hulk™ etc.) or an entertainer (i.e., Elvis,Madonna, Celine, etc.), and the like.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a talkinghosiery sock wherein the sound chip of the sound assembly produces asound which corresponds to the sound of the animal face or action figureor entertainer, such that a lamb animal face would produce a baah-baahsound, or an action figure “SUPERMAN™” would produce the theme musicfrom the “SUPERMAN™” movie or an ELVIS figure/face would sing “You Ain'tNothing But a Hound Dog”.®

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a talkinghosiery sock that has a three-dimensional unit permanently attached tothe ankle section of the hosiery sock by means of stitching, sewing,gluing, laser welding or the like.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a talkinghosiery sock that has a three-dimensional unit detachably mounted to theankle section of the hosiery sock by means of buttons, hook and loopfasteners (Velcro™), male and female snaps and the like for enabling thewearer to launder the hosiery sock by detaching the three-dimensionalunit from the ankle section of the hosiery sock.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a talkinghosiery sock that is used by infants, young children, pre-teens, andteenagers as novel and decorative footwear.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a talkinghosiery sock that can be mass-produced in an automated and economicalmanner and is readily affordable by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided ahosiery sock with a sound device for producing an animal-type sound. Thehosiery sock includes a foot section, a heel section, and an anklesection, with a three-dimensional unit attached to the ankle section.The three-dimensional unit includes a sound assembly having a soundchip, a speaker for transmitting the sound of the sound chip, anactivation button for activating the sound of the sound chip, withfiller material therein and a decorative cover having an animal facethereon. The sound chip is used for producing a sound which correspondsto the sound that the animal face makes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Further objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon the consideration of the followingdetailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the talking hosiery sock of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention showing a decorativemonkey face on a three-dimensional unit in an operational mode on achild's foot;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the talking sock of the presentinvention showing a decorative cow face on a three-dimensional unitattached to an ankle section of a hosiery sock;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the talking hosiery sockof the present invention showing a three-dimensional unit attached bystitching to an interior wall surface of the ankle section of thehosiery sock;

[0020]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the talking hosiery sockof the present invention showing a pig face on a three-dimensional unitbeing attached to an exterior wall surface of the ankle section of thehosiery sock by a pair of buttons;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the talking hosiery sock of thepresent invention taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 in the direction of thearrows showing a decorative cover on the three-dimensional unit, fillermaterial, a sound chip, a speaker, a battery, an activation button, anda non-decorative rear cover attached to the ankle section of the hosierysock;

[0022]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the talking hosiery sockof the present invention showing the three-dimensional unit having apony face decorative front cover, a sound assembly, filler material, anda non-decorative rear cover;

[0023]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the talking sock of thepresent invention showing the three-dimensional unit being attached tothe exterior wall surface of the ankle section of the hosiery sock byhook and loop fasteners; and

[0024]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the talking hosiery sockof the present invention showing the three-dimensional unit beingattached to the exterior wall surface of the ankle section of thehosiery sock by a pair of male and female snaps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] The talking hosiery sock 10 and its component part of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in detailby FIGS. 1 through 8 of the patent drawings. The talking hosiery sock 10includes a hosiery sock 20 having a foot portion/section 22, a heelportion/section 24 and an ankle portion/section 26. The hosiery sock 20further includes an interior wall surface 28 and an exterior wallsurface 30. The hosiery sock 20 is made of materials selected from thegroup consisting of cotton, wool, nylon, rayon, polyester andcombinations thereof. The hosiery sock 20 can be varied in size forinfants, children, pre-teens, teenagers or adults.

[0026] The talking hosiery sock 10 also includes, as shown in FIGS. 2and 3, a three-dimensional unit 40 attached to the ankle section 26 ofthe hosiery sock 20. The three-dimensional unit 40 includes, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, a decorative front cover section 42, a rear cover section44, filler material 46 and a sound assembly 60 embedded within thefiller material 46 for protecting the sound assembly 60 from damage. Thefiller material 46 is matted cotton fibers, polyester fibers orcombinations thereof. The decorative front cover section 42 includes ananimal face 48 in the form of a monkey 50, a cow 52, a pig 54 or a pony56, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6 of the drawings. The soundassembly 60 includes, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a housing 62 having asound chip 64, a speaker 66 for transmitting the sound or voice 68 ofthe sound chip 64, an activation button 70 for activating the sound orvoice 68 produced by the sound chip 64 and a battery 72 for supplyingpower to the sound chip 64. The sound chip 64 of the sound assembly 60produces a sound 68 which corresponds to the sound 68 of the animal face48. For example, a lamb animal face (not shown) would produce abaah-baah sound, a cow animal face 52 would produce a moo-moo sound or apig animal face 54 would produce an oink-oink sound. Further, the soundchip 64 may produce a voice 68 repeating the nursery rhyme the “ThreeLittle Pigs” from the pig animal face 54, when the user activates thepush button 70 on animal face 48, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

[0027] The three-dimensional unit 40 can be permanently attached to theankle section 26 of hosiery sock 20 by attachment means 80 in the formof stitching 82, sewing, gluing, laser welding and the like, as depictedin FIGS. 3 and 5. In an alternate configuration, the three-dimensionalunit 140 can also be detachably mounted to the ankle section 26 ofhosiery sock 20 by attachment means 180 in the form of buttons 84 andbutton eyelets 86, hook and loop fasteners 88 and 90, and male andfemale snaps 92 and 94, as depicted in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 of the drawings,respectively.

[0028] In an alternate design configuration, the three-dimensional units40 or 140 can have a front cover section 42 in the form of acaricature-type face, a doll-like body, a humanoid or animal-type bodysuch as a happy face, a man-in-the-moon, a clown, a teddy bear, anaction figure (i.e., Superman™, Spiderman™, the Hulk™, etc.) or anentertainer (i.e., Elvis, Madonna, Celine, etc.) and the like. Inaddition, the sound chip 64 of the sound assembly 60 produces a sound orvoice 68 which corresponds to the sound or voice 68 from thecaricature-type face, or from the animal or humanoid-type body such thatthe happy face (not shown) would produce a laughing sound, the clown(not shown) would produce a honking sound from a horn, or the Elvis faceor Elvis body (not shown) would produce singing from a song (i.e. “YouAin't Nothing But a Hound Dog”®).

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0029] In operating the talking hosiery sock 10 of the presentinvention, the user simply presses inwardly the activation button 70 ofthe speaker assembly 60 on a nose area 48 a of the animal face 48 withthe use of the user's finger 12 while the hosiery sock 20 is on the foot14 of an infant or child (not shown); as shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawings. The user can repeatedly press the activation button 70 toproduce the sound or voice 68 coming from the speaker 66 of sound chip64 on the child's foot 14.

[0030] Further, the three-dimensional unit 140 can be detachably removedfrom the ankle section 26 of the hosiery sock 20, such that the usersimply unbuttons the buttons 84 from the bottom eyelets 86, or removeshook fastener 88 from the loop fastener 90 or re-snaps the male snaps 92from the female snaps 94, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 of the drawing.This aforementioned procedure affords the user the capability of washingthe sock(s) without damaging the sound assembly 60 within thethree-dimensional 140, such that the unit 140 is not washed. Afterwashing the hosiery sock 20, the user buttons, fastens or snaps back theaforementioned attachment means 180 as previously described forattaching the three-dimensional unit 140 to the ankle section 26 ofhosiery sock 20.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0031] Accordingly, advantage of the present invention is that itprovides for a novel talking hosiery sock having an animal face thereonthat produces animal-type sounds upon squeezing the decorative animalface on the ankle section of the hosiery sock.

[0032] Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a talking hosiery sock having a decorative face on athree-dimensional unit that includes a sound assembly therein, whereinthe sound assembly includes a sound chip, a speaker for transmitting thesound of the sound chip, a battery for supplying power to the sound chipand an activation button for activating the sound of the sound chip.

[0033] Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a talking hosiery sock having a decorative face or a caricature-typeface on a three-dimensional unit in the form of an animal face such as afrog, a pig, a cow, a lamb, a monkey, a pony, a donkey, a duck, a mouse,a lion cub, a bear cub, a puppy, a kitten, a purple dinosaur or otheranimals; or in the form of a caricature-type face, figurine or body suchas a happy face, a man-in-the-moon, a clown, an action figure (i.e.,Superman™, Spiderman™, the Hulk™ etc.) or an entertainer (i.e., Elvis,Madonna, Celine, etc.), and the like.

[0034] Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a talking hosiery sock wherein the sound chip of the sound assemblyproduces a sound which corresponds to the sound of the animal face oraction figure or entertainer, such that a lamb animal face would producea baah-baah sound, or an action figure “SUPERMAN™” would produce thetheme music from the “SUPERMAN™” movie or an ELVIS figure/face wouldsing “You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog”.®

[0035] Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a talking hosiery sock that has a three-dimensional unit permanentlyattached to the ankle section of the hosiery sock by means of stitching,sewing, gluing, laser welding or the like.

[0036] Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a talking hosiery sock that has a three-dimensional unit detachablymounted to the ankle section of the hosiery sock by means of buttons,hook and loop fasteners (Velcro™), male and female snaps and the likefor enabling the wearer to launder the hosiery sock by detaching thethree-dimensional unit from the ankle section of the hosiery sock.

[0037] Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a talking hosiery sock that is used by infants, young children,pre-teens, and teenagers as novel and decorative footwear.

[0038] Another advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a talking hosiery sock that can be mass-produced in an automated andeconomical manner and is readily affordable by the user.

[0039] A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intendedin the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. Hosiery with a sound device, comprising: a) ahosiery sock having a foot section, a heel section, and an anklesection; b) a three-dimensional unit attached to said ankle section; c)said three-dimensional unit including a sound chip, a speaker fortransmitting the sound of said sound chip, an activation button foractivating the sound produced by said sound chip, a battery forsupplying power to said sound chip and a decorative cover having ananimal face thereon; and d) said sound chip producing a sound whichcorresponds to the sound that the animal face makes.
 2. A hosiery sockin accordance with claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional unit isattached to said ankle section by attachment means in the form ofstitching, sewing, gluing, laser welding, hook and loop fasteners, snapsor buttons.
 3. A hosiery sock in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidthree-dimensional unit further includes a filler material in order togive volume to said three-dimensional unit.
 4. A hosiery sock inaccordance with claim 3, wherein said sound chip, speaker, battery andactivation are button are embedded within said filler material forprotecting said sound chip and speaker.
 5. A hosiery sock in accordancewith claim 3, wherein said filler material is matted cotton fibers,polyester fibers or combinations thereof.
 6. A hosiery sock inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said animal face is selected from agroup consisting of a frog, a pig, a cow, a lamb, a monkey, a pony, adonkey, a duck, a mouse, a lion cub, a bear cub, a puppy, a kitten, apurple dinosaur and other animals.
 7. A hosiery sock in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said decorative cover of said three-dimensional unit ismade from materials selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool,polyester, nylon, rayon and combinations thereof.
 8. A hosiery sock inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said three-dimensional unit ispermanently attached to said ankle section.
 9. A hosiery sock inaccordance with claim 2, wherein said three-dimensional unit isdetachably mounted to said ankle section.
 10. Hosiery with a sounddevice, comprising: a) a hosiery sock having a foot section, a heelsection, and an ankle section; b) a three-dimensional unit attached tosaid ankle section; c) said three-dimensional unit including a soundchip, a speaker for transmitting the sound or voice of said sound chip,an activation button for activating the sound or voice produced by saidsound chip, a battery for supplying power to said sound chip and adecorative cover having a face thereon; and d) said sound chip producinga sound or voice which corresponds to the sound or voice that the facemakes.
 11. A hosiery sock in accordance with claim 10, wherein said faceis in the form of a caricature-type face, or an entertainer/celebrityface.
 12. A hosiery sock in accordance claim 10, wherein saidthree-dimensional unit is attached to said ankle section by attachmentmeans in the form of stitching, sewing, gluing, laser welding, hook andloop fasteners, snaps or buttons.
 13. A hosiery sock in accordance withclaim 11, wherein said three-dimensional unit is permanently attached tosaid ankle section.
 14. A hosiery sock in accordance with claim 11,wherein said three-dimensional unit is detachably mounted to said anklesection.
 15. Hosiery with a sound device, comprising: a) a hosiery sockhaving a foot section, a heel section, and an ankle section; b) athree-dimensional unit attached to said ankle section; c) saidthree-dimensional unit including a sound or voice chip, a speaker fortransmitting the sound or voice of said sound chip, an activation buttonfor activating the sound or voice produced by said sound chip, anactivation button for activating the sound chip produced by said soundchip, a battery for supplying power to said sound chip and a decorativecover having a figure-type body thereon; and d) said sound chipproducing a sound or voice which corresponds to the sound or voice thatthe figure-type body makes.
 16. A hosiery sock in accordance with claim15, wherein said figure-type body is in the form of a caricature-typebody, a doll-like body, an animal-type body or anentertainer/celebrity-type body.
 17. A hosiery sock in accordance withclaim 15, wherein said three-dimensional unit is attached to said anklesection by attachment means in the form of stitching, sewing, gluing,laser welding, hook and loop fasteners, snaps or buttons.
 18. A hosierysock in accordance with claim 15, wherein said three-dimensional unit ispermanently attached to said ankle section.
 19. A hosiery sock inaccordance with claim 15, wherein said three-dimensional unit isdetachably mounted to said ankle section.
 20. Hosiery with a decorativedevice, comprising: a) a hosiery sock having a foot section, a heelsection, and an ankle section; and b) a three-dimensional decorativedevice in the form of an animal face attached to said ankle section. 21.A hosiery sock in accordance with claim 20, wherein saidthree-dimensional decorative device is attached to said ankle section byattachment means in the form of stitching, sewing, gluing, laserwelding, hook and loop fasteners, snaps or buttons.
 22. A hosiery sockin accordance with claim 20, wherein said three-dimensional decorativedevice further includes a filler material in order to give volume tosaid three-dimensional decorative device.
 23. A hosiery sock inaccordance with claim 20, wherein said animal face is selected from agroup consisting of a frog, a pig, a cow, a lamb, a monkey, a pony, adonkey, a duck, a mouse, a lion cub, a bear cub, a puppy, a kitten, apurple dinosaur and other animals.
 24. A hosiery sock in accordance withclaim 20, wherein said decorative device is made from materials selectedfrom the group consisting of cotton, wool, polyester, nylon, rayon andcombinations thereof.
 25. A hosiery sock in accordance with claim 21,wherein said three-dimensional decorative device is permanently attachedto said ankle section.
 26. A hosiery sock in accordance with claim 21,wherein said three-dimensional decorative is detachably mounted to saidankle section.